Sight system for firearms



('H-f 2 9 86 9 l 68 F. W. SAMPSON SIGHT SYSTEM FOR FIREARMS Dec. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5. 1956 INVENTOR. I

M f" f FEEDEE/CK W 5AMP5ON j wz ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1958 F. w. SAMPSON 2,864,168

SIGHT SYSTEM FOR FIREARMS Filed July 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FEEDER/CK WSAMPaoN ATT' ENE) United States Patent G SIGHT SYSTEM FOR FIREARMS Frederick W. Sampson, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application July 5, 1956, Serial No. 596,016

4 Claims. (CI. 33-55) This invention pertains to firearms, and particularly to a firearm sighting system.

An object of this invention is to provide a self-holding spring base for a gun sight. As a preferred embodiment thereof, the base is generally U-shaped, with the bottom and legs thereof being slotted, to impart the desired resiliency. The bottom of the base is dove-tailed in crosssection and is slidably inserted in a transversely extending dove-tailed groove in the receiver portion of the firearm. The use of this spring base obviates the neces sity of critical fits, since the legs of the base are resiliently urged into frictional engagement with the slotted receiver portion. gThe base may be adjusted transversely of the receiver portion for windage zeroing, after which it is staked in place, if desired. j

Another object of this invention is to provide an effective and easily assembled spring means for resiliently maintaining the sight post in perpendicular, intermediate and substantially parallel positions to the general longitudinal dimension of the gun. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by providing a generally triangular sheet metal spring having downwardly extending tangs received in the aforementioned slot of the base. The sight post is provided with suitable stops cooperating with the base and spring to maintain these three positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved quick range setting means in combination with a slow motion, fine adjustment for more accurate setting of the sight. As a preferred embodiment, the quick range setting means includes a release button to permit quick vertical adjustment of the sight, together with a rotatable wheel for actuating a screw threaded actuator for the more accurate setting of the sight.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, in elevation, of a firearm embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the rear sight,

looking toward the front end of the gun.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the fully parked position of the rear sight.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rear sight base.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the generally triangular sheet metal spring for holding the sight post in selected positions.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-section along line 77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing modified rear sight.

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevation of the rear sight shown in Figure 8 looking toward the front of the gun.

2,864,168 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 Figure 10 is a vertical cross-section along line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a horizontal cross-section along the line 11-11.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the parts in quick adjustment position.

Figure 13 is a horizontal cross-section along line 13-13 of Figure 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, the sighting system of this invention is depicted in conjunction with a firearm having a receiver portion 20 and a barrel 21. The sighting system includes an adjustable rear sight generally depicted by the numeral 50 which is attached to the receiver portion 20, and a front sight generally depicted by the numeral which is attached to the barrel 21.

With particular reference to Figures 2 through 7, the adjustable rear sight 50 comprises a spring base member 22, which is generally U-shaped. As seen particularly in Figure 5, the bottom 23 of the U-shaped member 22 is of dove-tailed section, having tapered edges 23a. The bottom 23 and upstanding legs 24 and 25 are slotted at 26. The slot 26 terminates in circular openings 28 and 29 in the upstanding legs 24 and 25. The dovetailed bottom 23 is arranged to be slidably received in a transversely extending dove-tailed groove 27 formed in the receiver portion 20 of the firearm, said groove 27 having tapered dove-tail receiving sides 27a for the dovetailed edges 23a of the base 22. By reason of the base member 22 being made of spring material, the split bottom portion 23 thereof tends to spread apart when inserted in the groove 27, thereby exerting lateral forces which tend to maintain the base member 22 in fixed relation relative to the receiver portion 20. The use of the spring base depicted in Figure 5 obviates the necessity of critical fits between the dove-tailed groove in the receiver portion and the dove-tailed bottom of the U-shaped base. Base 22, which may be adjusted transversely of the receiver 20 so as to zero the rear sight 50 for windage, may be fixedly retained in place after zeroing if desired by deforming portions of the side walls of the dove-tailed groove 27 in the receiver portion 20, as indicated at 30 in Figure 2.

The rear sight 50 also includes a sight, or elevation, post 31 having a portion disposed between the upstanding legs 24 and 25 of the base 22 and pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin 32 which extends through aligned openings 28 and 29 in the base and an opening 33 in the post 31. The post 31 has a bottom pedestal 54 which has a flat bottom surface 31a. A generally triangularly shaped spring 34 is interposed between the bottom surface 31a of pedestal 54 and the bottom 23 of the base 22. The spring 34 is formed with a pair of downwardly extending tangs 35 and 36 (Figures 3 and 6), which are received in the groove 26 of the bottom 23 of the base member 22. The spring 34 resiliently maintains the sight post 31 in either of two positions, namely, perpendicular to the receiver portion 20, as depicted in full lines in Figures 3 and substantially parallel to general longitudinal dimension of the gun, as depicted in Figure 4. In order to establish the two positions of the sight post 31, the post pedestal 54 is formed with a stop 37 arranged to abut the bottom 23 of the base 22 when the post is in the upright position, as depicted in Figure 3. At this time, the fiat surface 31a cooperates with the spring 34 to hold the sight in vertical position. The stop 37 also serves to absorb the recoil inertia forces, and to maintain an accurate perpendicular position of the rear gun sight. The lower pedestal 54 of the post 31 is further provided with an inclined portion 38 arranged to abut and pass the spring 34 when the post is being rocked to parked position, as indicated in Figure 4.

In this position, the post 31 is moved to a position parallel to the receiver portion and the front surface 38a thereof engages the spring 34.

The rear sight 50 is zeroed for windage after being at tached to the receiver portion 20 of the firearm. This is effected by sliding the base 22 transversely with respect to the receiver portion 20 after which it may be-staked in place, as indicated at in Figure 2.

Zeroing of the rear sight shown in Figures 1 to 7 for elevation, and subsequent field adjustment for elevation, is more fully described in my Patent No. 2,747,281, application Serial No. 286,723, filed May 8, 1952, for Gun Sight, to which reference is made for a more detailed description thereof. Briefly, the sight post 31 is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section in its upper portion and has chamfered corners 40. An inner sleeve or elevation frame 41 surrounds the post 31 and has an inner longitudinal opening 42 similarly rectangular in cross-section and having chamfered corners and slidingly fitting on post 31. It is vertically movable, but rotationally fixed with respect to post 31. The inner sleeve 41 carries the sight 43 by means of serrated portion 44 which has a driving fit on the correspondingly serrated inner surface 45 of the sleeve 41 or the parts may be brazed together. An upper outer sleeve 46 is normally axially fixed and rotationally free for manual turning. Sleeve 46 has a threaded engagement at 47 with the inner sleeve 41. Manual turning of sleeve 46 causes sleeve 41 to raise and lower the sight 43 for vertical range adjustment, as will become more fully apparent.

Outer upper sleeve 46 has threaded engagement at 48 with outer lower sleeve 49. This threaded engagement is used to zero the sight vertically, after which the sleeves 48 and 49 are staked or otherwise fastened together at 51 into one or more of the grooves 51a.

Lower outer sleeve 49 is vertically fixed and rotationally free by reason of the engagement of flange 52 with the upper flat surface 53 of the lower pedestal 54 of the sight post 31. In addition, circular washer 55 and C washer 56 receive the spreading effect of compression spiral spring 57, which pushes the washer 55 and flange 52 down against flat surface 53. The C washer 56 is held from vertical movement because it fits into horizontal groove 58 in post 31.

A zero marker 59 is placed on platform 59 and another zero marker 60 is placed on outer sleeve 46. The sight is zeroed to the gun by relative turning of the sleeves 46 and 49 while holding the two zero markers in aligned positions. When the sight is thus properly zeroed, the sleeves 46 and 49 are staked or fastened together at 51, after which they turn in unison for field elevation adjustment of the sight.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 13, the rear sight 50a has the U-shaped member 22, having upstanding legs 24 and 25 substantially the same as previously described with respect to Figures 1 to 7. Likewise, the spring 34 and pedestal 54 cooperate in the same manner as in Figures 1 to 7. The lower portion of pedestal 54 is provided with stop 37 and with inclined portion 38 and front surface 38a (38 and 38a not shown in Figures 8 to 13) so that the sight of Figures 8 to 13 may be placed in different positions disclosed with respect to Figures 1 to 7.

The front sights 100 and 100a may be of any suitable type, but preferably are the same as the front sight more fully described and claimed in the concurrently filed application of Allen L. Everitt, to which reference is made for a more detailed description thereof, if necessary. This front sight may be zeroed both for elevation and windage as more fully disclosed in said application.

The pedestal 54 of the rear sight may be integral with and support the sight post 31a. The post preferably is flat and rectangular in horizontal cross-section. This post has upper vertical slide columns and 71 on which the cooperating elevation scales 72 and 73 are marked. The upper ends of the columns 70 and 71 are secured together in parallel relation by bridge 74 and rivets 75.

The sight or notch 76 is carried by bench 76a on a vertically adjustable horizontal slide member 77, preferably in the form of a horizontal cylinder. The bench 76a has a straight upper surface 76b which is the pointer for the scales 72 and 73.

The slide member 77 has a quick vertical adjustment locked and released by the push button or manual release 78, and a slow, final adjustment actuated by the adjustment wheel or manual turning member 79.

The quick and final adjustments are connected with a vertical screw member 80, having a spiral thread 81. The screw member 80 is journaled within the column 70 at 82'and within the sight post 31a at 83, and is upwardly biased by the compression spring 84. The screw member may be rotated by the wheel 79, which has a loose serrated driving connection at 85.

The wheel 79 has outer serrations 86 which cooperate with the ball 87 and compression spring 88 to hold the wheel 79 in the selected adjusted position.

The button 78 has a quick release and engagement with the screw member 80 through the medium of a hollowed plunger 89 which is longitudinally movable within the cylindrical slide member 77. The plunger 89 has forklike members 90 which have bearing engagement with vertical column 70 and with the inner wall 91 of the slide member 77. The end piece 92 of the plunger 89 has a screw threaded extension 93 which cooperates with the screw member 80 to hold and adjust the sight notch 76. When the end piece 92 is rightward, by release of button 78, as in Figure 11, the slide member 77 and sight notch 76 are firmly held against quick vertical movement, but may be slowly adjusted by turning of the wheel 79 and screw member 80. When the end piece 93 is in leftward position, by pushing the button 78 leftward, as in Figure 12, the slide member 77 and sight notch 76 may be quickly adjusted vertically by manually pushing it up or down.

The plunger 89 is rightwardly biased by the compression spring 94, which bears against the plunger end piece 92 at one end and against the internal wall 95 at the other.

The slide member 77 snugly embraces the column 71, as indicated in Figures 11 and 12, to cooperate in keeping the slide in horizontal position.

In operation of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7, the rear sight 50 is zeroed before the outer sleeves 46 and 49 are fastened together at 51. This is accomplished by holding the sleeve 46 with zero marker 60 in alignment with zero marker 59 while rotating outer sleeve 49 to bring the sight 43 to zero calibration by vertical movement due to the threaded connection 48. When properly zeroed, the sleeves 46, 49 are staked (or otherwise fastened at 51). Thereafter, the sight may be adjusted for range elevation by turning the now interlocked sleeves 46 and 49 which cause vertical movement of the sight 43 due to the threaded engagement at 47.

The rear sight 50 is horizontally zeroed by horizontal sliding of the wedge-shaped dovetailing edges 23a of base 22 within the tapered slots 27a, until properly zeroed, and then staking the base 22 at 30.

The embodiment of Figures 8 to 13 is zeroed horizontally as previously described with respect to Figures 1 to 7. The rear sight 50a and the front sight a are zeroed vertically by vertical calibration of front pin 101a, as more fully described in the said application of Allen L. Everitt. The sight notch 76 is given a quick vertical range adjustment by pushing in button 78 to the left, as in Figure 12, and then manually moving slide member 77 until upper surface 76b substantially registered with the desired value on scale 72, 73. The button 78 is then released to the position shown in Figure 11. Thereafter, a slow and more accurate vertical range adjustment is obtained by turning wheel 79, which rotates screw 80 to cause the slow accurate adjustment in cooperatio-n with the now engaging, screw threaded extension 93 of the plunger 89.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination: a firearm having a receiver portion with a transversely extending dove-tailed groove having oppositely directed dove-tail receiving sides; a U-shaped member having vertical end walls and a dovetailed horizontal bottom slidably received in said oppositely directed dove-tail receiving sides; said end walls and bottom being slotted and sprung whereby said dovetailed bottom resiliently engages the sides of said dovetailed groove; a gu n sight hing edlymounted in said vertical end wallsfsaid "gun 's'i'gli't having a lower pedestal provided with a plurality of flat lower surfaces; and a triangularly shaped spring having a pair of tangs disposed in the slot of said horizontal bottom of the U-shaped member and having an upper surface engageable with said fiat lower surfaces for yieldably holding said gun 'sightin a plurality of hinged positions.

2. In combination: a firearm having a receiver portion with a transversely extending groove; a U-shaped member having vertical end walls and a horizontal bottom slidably received in said groove; the bottom of said U-shaped member having a slot therein; a gun sight lower pedestal hiugedly mounted on said end walls; a triangularly shaped spring having a pair of tangs disposed in the slot of said horizontal bottom and having an upper surface for yieldably holding said pedestal in a plurality of hinged positions; a sight post supported on said pedestal; a slide on said sight post provided with a sight; quick vertical adjustment means on said slide; and slow final adjustment means on said post.

3. In combination: a firearm having a gun sight re- 5 ceiver portion; a gun sight post hingedly mounted on said portion; a screw threaded member rotationally mounted on said post; a slide member slidably mounted on said post and having a sight; a plunger in said slide member having an elongated hole therein through which said post extends a screw threaded extension on said plunger releasably engaging said screw threaded member; means to engage and disengage said extension with and from said screw threaded member for quick vertical adjustment of said sight; and means for turning said screw threaded member for slow final adjustment of said sight. 4. In combination: a firearm having a receiver portion with a transversely extending groove; a U-shaped memher having vertical end walls and a horizontal bottom slidably received in said groove; the bottom of said U- shaped member having a slot therein; a gun sight having a lower gidestal.hingedlymmounted on said end walls; a "'tr'ia'fi giil arly shaped spring having a pair of tangs disposed in the slot of said horizontal bottom and having an upper surface for yieldably holding said pedestal in a plurality of hinged positions; and a sight post supported on said pedestal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,722 Bellows June 3, 1884 963,389 Pilblad July 5, 1910 990,783 Russ Apr. 25, 1911 1,265,266 Simpson May 7, 1918 1,491,141 Johnston Apr. 22, 1924 1,621,476 Green Mar. 15, 1927 

